WHAT IS DIABETES? What do these people have in common?

Chris Pennell Este Haim Nick Jonas Lucy Davis Steve Redgrave Amelia Lily THEY ALL HAVE DIABETES AND IT HASN’T STOPPED THEM BEING SUCCESSFUL! What is diabetes?

The UK’s fastest growing health threat

Every three minutes someone learns they have diabetes

3.8m What is diabetes?

Diabetes is where the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. This happens when:

- The pancreas does not make any or enough insulin.
- The insulin does not work properly.
- Or sometimes it can be a combination of both. There are two main types of diabetes

**TYPE 1**

- The body is unable to produce any insulin.
- Has to be treated with insulin.
- Most children with diabetes have Type 1.
- You cannot prevent it.
- It develops rapidly. Develops when the body still makes some insulin, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.

Risk factors for Type 2 include:

- Family history.
- Age.
- Overweight.
- Waist circumference.
- Very few children have Type 2.

This presentation will focus on Type 1 diabetes. Signs or symptoms of Type 1 diabetes

- Toilet.

- Thirsty.

- Tired.

- Thinner. What do children with Type 1 diabetes have to do?

- Take insulin.

- Test blood glucose level regularly.

- Follow a healthy balanced diet.

- Take regular physical activity.

- Have regular appointments with their doctor and nurse. Taking insulin

By injection: • With each meal. • When blood glucose level is high. • Injections will be needed at school

By pump: • Continuous infusion of insulin. • Extra insulin with food/when blood glucose level is high. Blood glucose levels

- Check blood glucose is at the right level.
- Finger prick test.
- Regularly during the day.
- Continuous blood glucose monitoring. Food

• Healthy balanced diet. • No food is forbidden. • But diabetic foods are not recommended. • May need to eat at certain times, including in class. • May need extra snack before, during and after PE. Physical activity

- Important for all children.
- Can take part in all sports.
- May need extra snack before, during and after PE.
- May need to disconnect pump. Type 1 diabetes in school Can and should join in all school activities including: • PE, games and sports. • School trips. • Exams. Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels)

Signs

- Hunger.

- Shakiness.

- Mood change.

- Clumsiness.

- Pale.

- Sweating.

- Symptoms come on quickly. Causes of a hypo

- Too much insulin.

- A delayed or missed meal or snack.

- Not enough carbohydrate food.

- Unplanned activity.

- Sometimes no obvious cause. Treating a Hypo

• Immediately stop the activity and give something sugary to eat or drink. • May need to follow up with longer-acting carbohydrate, e.g. sandwich or next meal if it’s due. • Rest until they feel better. • And only then resume activity. • If untreated can lead to, fit or collapse. Hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose levels)

Signs

• Needing to pass urine. • Feeling very thirsty. • Feeling very tired. • Tummy ache and headache. Causes of a hyper

- Too little insulin.

- Too much carbohydrate food.

- Insulin pump failure.

- Less activity than usual.

- Illness.

- Stress. Treating a hyper

- Check blood betone level.

- Drink sugar free drinks.

- May need extra insulin.

If untreated, can lead to:

- Vomiting.

- Breathing difficulties.

- Collapse. Why is looking after Type 1 at school so important?

- Immediate safety of child.

- Long-term well being.

- Optimal academic performance.

- Increasing numbers of children with Type 1.

- Now law in England, but best practice in other UK nations. What is needed in schools?

- Medical conditions policy.

- Individual healthcare plan.

- Everybody working together.

- Training and support. What Diabetes UK is doing:

• Change in the law (England). • New legal duty on schools to support children with diabetes. • Type 1 diabetes: Make the Grade will help make that change a reality in all schools. • Resources for schools, families and health care professionals across the whole of the UK. Diabetes UK resources

- Information packs for parents and schools.
- Information about diabetes, what care to expect, tools and templates etc.
- Information for key audiences and nation specific information.
- Advocacy service, for advice on how you should look after a child at school.
- Parents, children, teachers and PDSN’s showing that good care is achievable.
- www.diabetes.org.uk/schools THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

GO TO WWW.DIABETES.ORG.UK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND SUPPORT